Name
Frederick William Hitchcock
21 June 1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/11/1918
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Driver
890272
Royal Field Artillery
"A" Bty. 270th Bde.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ALEXANDRIA (HADRA) WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
E.225
Egypt
Headstone Inscription
R.I.P.
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial,
John Dickinson Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley,
Not on the Apsley End memorial
Pre War
Frederick William Hitchcock, known as Fred, was born on 21 June 1895 in Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of Charles and Annie Hitchcock and baptised there on 12 July 1895. He was one of ten children, although one, Stanley, died in infancy.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 1 Astley Road, Hemel Hempstead where his father was working as a Gravedigger.
Prior to enlistment the family lived at 25 Astley Road, Hemel Hempstead and he was employed at John Dickinson & Co, Apsley Mills, as were most of his siblings.
Wartime Service
He volunteered in June 1915 and enlisted in Hertford, joining the Royal Field Artillery as a Driver, initially in France, from 19 November 1915. He remained on the Western Front for a month, joining the 33rd Division whose artillery was still in training.
He then left France from Marseille on 30 January and arrived in Alexandria, Egypt on 14 February. He was initially stationed at Mena Camp near Cairo, followed in April by a move the Suez Canal defences. At the end of 1916 Fred was posted to "A" Battery (1/1st Hertfordshire). He fought in several engagements, including the three Battles of Gaza, the Battle of Jaffa, Berukin in April 1918, followed by the Battle of Sharon.
After the Armistice, he returned to Egypt awaiting his demobilisation and return to England, however, in mid-November he became infected with malaria and was admitted to hospital in Alexandria but quickly deteriorated.
He died from malaria in the 19th General Hospital, Egypt on 25 November 1918, age 23 and is buried in Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery.
(N.B. CWGC gives his cause of death as pneumonia, but all other records suggest he died of malaria).
Additional Information
His mother, Mrs A Hitchcock, 25 Astley Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "R.I.P.".
His mother received a war gratuity of £16 and pay owing of £19 18s 6d. She also received a pension of 9s 6d a week.
Brother to Charles John Hitchcock who died on 10 October 1918, following the sinking of the S S Leinster and is buried in Kircudbright (St Cuthbert) Old Churchyard, Scotland.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk. www.hemelatwar.org., www.hemelheroes.com.
